JOURNAL

Coffee and design: a perfect symbiosis

Modern, timeless lamps hang from the ceiling and design icons like the Vitra Lounge Chair, several Eames Plastic Chairs and the world-famous Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto in different colours stand wonderfully curated side by side.

Not to mention countless accessories, all of which I’d love to call my own: the black Eames House Bird, the white Eames Elephant, the walnut ‘Hang it all’ coat hook and the Incense Kyoto perfume by Comme des Garçons. And also a great selection of books: for example Oscar Niemeyer’s Wir müssen die Welt verändern (We Have to Change the World), an alarmingly accurate reflection of our society.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air of the Artek concept store. “The speciality of Concierge Coffee is our espresso,” their barista Ronald tells me, while he happily conjures up a heart in the frothed milk of my cappuccino, after letting the espresso flow through the stainless-steel coffee machine for 25 seconds. But perhaps conjuring is the wrong word to describe what Ronald does. To be honest, it’s actually more akin to art and impeccable craftmanship. Concierge Coffee serves up the perfect coffee, far from the jumbo cups full of foamy milk you usually find elsewhere.

Ronald and I talk a bit more about the sensuality and inspirational qualities of coffee, purism and the aim of creating the ultimate product. This is precisely why it makes so much sense to combine design and coffee. And also the reason why the Artek concept store and Concierge Coffee form the perfect symbiosis.

Artek, which stands for art and technology, was founded in 1935 by Aino and Alvar Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl. The founders were inspired by the idea of establishing a modern way of living. They represented new aesthetic ideals for everyday life and championed the synthesis of different arts in architecture, design and urban planning.

And the brains behind Concierge Coffee follow a similar ideal: to make Berlin’s best espresso. If you don’t believe me, you should come and try it for yourself. I’m sure it won’t be your last visit!